Flannery

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This article concerns Contract Bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.

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Flannery is a bridge convention using an 2 diamond opening bid to show a hand of minimal opening bid strength (11-15 high card points) with exactly four spades and five (or sometimes six) hearts. It is invented by American player William Flannery.

The reason why the convention was introduced lies in awkwardness of describing such holding, especially with four-card major systems. For example, with the hand ♠KQ82 ♥AJ643 ♦KJ ♣54, if the bidding starts 1♥-1NT (denying four spades), the opener cannot rebid 2♠, as it would be a reverse bid showing a stronger hand, 2♥ shows a six-card suit, and 2 of a minor would show 4 or at least good 3 cards. Thus, the opener cannot safely seek for a 5-3 fit in hearts. Five-card major openers are somewhat better placed, because 1NT denies both 3 hearts and 4 spades, so opener may safely pass. However, this convention is also useful when playing five-card majors in conjunctions with forcing notrump, to prevent opener from having to respond in a nonsuit after 1♥ – 1 Notrump when not strong enough to reverse.

[edit] Responses

Responder has only 2NT as the forcing bid, and all other bids are natural. The bidding proceeds as follows:

Pass, 2♥, 2♠, 3♣ – to play
3NT, 4♥, 4♠ – to play
3♥, 3♠ – invitational
2NT – forcing bid. The opener describes his hand more precisely:
- 3♣, 3♦ – 3 cards in the bid suit (i.e. 4=5=1=3 and 4=5=3=1 distribution)
- 3♥ – 4=5=2=2, 11-13 points
- 3♠ – 4=5=2=2, 14-15 points with weak minor-suit doubletons
- 3NT – 4=5=2=2, 14-15 points, but good minor-suit doubletons
- 4♣, 4♦ – 4 cards in the bid suit (i.e. 4=5=0=4 and 4=5=4=0 distribution)
- 4♥ - a 6-card heart suit, for those who play this variant

[edit] Anti-Flannery

"Anti-Flannery" is a variation used in systems which use canapé approach, where shorter suit is opened first. It is used in some variations of Blue Club and Lancia systems. With canapé in effect, hands with 4=5 in majors are naturally opened 1♠ with 2♥ rebid, however, hands with 5 spades and 4 hearts are the ones that present a problem. So, the bid of 2♦ shows 5 spades and 4 hearts. The further development is similar to the basic Flannery.